Spot gluing of continuous forms



July 20, 1965 E. w. LISZEWSKI ETAL 3,

SPOT GLUING OF CONTINUOUS FORMS Filed Oct. 8. 1962 INVENTORS EDWARD W. USZEWS K\ ROBERT H HORNUNQ United States Patent 3,196,065 SPOT GLUING OF C(BNT'I'NUOUS FORMS Edward Walter Liszewshi, Bufialo, and Robert Herman Hornung, Eggertsville, N.Y., assignors to Graphic Controls Corporation, Budalo, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Get. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 229,127 4 Claims. (till. 156-291) This invention relates to the manufacture of continuous business forms, and more particularly, to an improved process and apparatus for the spot gluing of interleaved continuous forms.

Business forms of the type having registered sheets with interleaved reproduction papers such as conventional carbon paper are in wide use in industry. By utilizing such forms, a memorandum imprinted onto the uppermost sheet of the registered form will be recorded upon any number of registered sheets in the stacked form, and a simultaneous recordation for such purposes as sales, shipping, packing, etc. may be effected.

A major obstacle to the satisfactory use of such forms has been the inability to achieve a form having component parts which are sturdily and compactly interconnected and yet which are readily detachable from each other when desired. Various approaches have been taken in efforts to provide a reliable product, such as crimping, stapling or gluing the respective sheets to one another. For example, one procedure in use today provides for periodic angular slits in the side edge of a carbon paper sheet and for a continuous line of glue between the slit side of the carbon paper sheet and the edge of a superimposed writing sheet.

An improvement on that procedure, also in current use, is to provide for periodic tab punch-outs in a paper sheet edge with a make cutting tool passing through the paper to punch out the tab and to depress a spring loaded member into a female recess, followed by a spot gluing of the tabs as they are subsequently extended from the plane of the paper sheet by expansion of the depressed member. While forms produced by the slit or tab gluing processes exhibit, to a certain extent, the requisite interconnection of the superimposed sheets of the form and a relative ease of separation when desired, such forms suffer from the serious disadvantages of bulkiness, irregular build up of the sheets from one side to the other, interference with subsequent handling of the forms in automatic machines caused by the tabs or slits fouling the mechanisms thereof, and, in general, undo expense and loss in efliciency occasioned by the necessity of performing the extra step of slitting or tab punch-out in the process of manufacturing the forms. 1

This invention is predicated upon the discovery that a satisfactory interleaved form can be produced by a continuous spot gluing process without deforming any of the sheets with slits, tabs, or any other similar irregularities. In the preferred embodiment the process comprises the steps of periodically forming an elevation in the surface of the edge of one of the treated sheets; contacting the elevated surface with a glue source whereby a periodic series of glue spots is formed on the edge of the sheet; and pressure contacting the edge of the treated sheet with the edge of another sheet whereby the first and the second sheets are effectively and detachably interjoined. Apparatus which has been found to be particularly suitable for the practice of the invention comprises a rotatable cylindrical roller member having extension plungers spring cushioned in periodic circumferential recesses formed in the surface of the member, such that passage of a tensioned paper sheet over the roller member will cause undulations in the plane of the sheet; glue applying 3,11%,55 Patented July 20, 1965 ice means spaced from the roller member such that glue is spot placed on the peaks of the undulations formed in the sheet; and means for pressure contacting the spot glued sheet with another sheet whereby the two sheets are effectively and detachably interjoined.

Accordingly, it is a primary objection of this invention to provide means for interjoining two or more sheets by a spot gluing process which effectively maintains the superimposed sheets in connected and smooth register and yet which enables a ready detachment of one sheet from the other when desired.

It is a related object of this invention to provide such means without any unnecessary steps in the manufacture of the drawing sheets and without any bulkiness or other irregularities in the finished sheet product attributable to slits or tabs formed in the interleaved sheets.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the subject invention will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an illustrative embodiment is described in the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in elevation of apparatus suitable for the practice of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a completed form comprising two paper sheets interjoined by the novel spot gluing technique disclosed herein.

With reference to FIG. 1, apparatus generally designated by the numeral 1 is seen to comprise a frame support 2 having the rollers 4, 6, 8, and 10 rotatably journalled therein. A paper web 12, which is secured from a paper supply drum 14, is trained about the rollers 4-10, as shown, such that it is tensioned about the periphery of the roller 10. A second paper web 13 (e.g., carbon paper) is guided by the guide roller 9 for superimposed alignment with the web 12 beneath the rollers 6 and 8.

Adhesive supplying means, generally designated by the numeral 16, are shown in the right hand portion of FIG. 1. The means 16 comprise a conventional glue pot and melt chamber 18 from which a glue nozzle 20 extends such that glue is continuously presented at the end 22 of the nozzle 20. A drainage cup 24 is positioned beneath the nozzle 20, as by the bracket 26, in order to catch any glue overflow which might otherwise drip onto the paper web 13.

The cylindrical roller 10 is provided with means for undulating the surface of the paper web 12 tensioned thereabout. The means 30 are best illustrated in the enlarged View shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the means 30 comprise a recess 32 formed in the surface of the cylindrical member 19 and which is provided with a constricted open.- ing 33 by virtue of the presence of the threaded collar member 40. A plunger element 34 is positioned within the recess 32 and has a constricted central portion 36 and an enlarged base portion 38 defining the shoulders 37 therebetween. A spring 42 yieldingly urges the plunger member 34 upwardly out of the recess 32 such that the shoulders 37 are in contiguous contact with the cylindrical collar 40 threaded into the recess 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, a series of extension members 30 is provided on the surface of the cylindrical member 19. The members 30 are preferably equally spaced in circumferential disposition in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the member 16. Thereby, the surface of the web 12 will be contacted by an extension member 30 at periodic spaced intervals determined by the angular relation of the elements 30 to one another.

The force of the spring 42 provided within the recess 32 is such that the constricted central portions 36 of each of the extension members 30 will yieldingly urge the tensioned web 12 upwardly away from the surface of the cylindrical roller without, however, causing a rupture or tear in the surface of the web 12.

In operation, means (not shown) are provided to pull the superimposed webs 12 and 13 to the left as seen in FIG. 1. The web 12 is thus tensioned about the cylindrical roller 10 and the protruding extension members 30 thereof which, when in contact with the web 12, produce the undulations or peaks P shown in FIG. 1 As the distorted web 12 thus passes the end 22 of the glue nozzle 20, the peaks P are caused to contact the glue supply whereby a dab or spot of glue is periodically placed in sequential arrangement on the surface of the web 12. The partially interjoined and partially detched web segments 12a and 13a of FIG. 3 show' the glue spots 17 produced by the distorted passage of the web 12 across the path of the glue nozzle 20.

The roller 3 comprises pressure contacting means for interjoining the sheets 12 and 13 as they are passed therebeneath. Preferably, the roller 8 is eccentrically mounted, as shown in FIG. 1, such that the superimposed sheets 12 and 13 are compressed thereunder in synchronized relationship of pressure contact with passage of glue spots 1'7 beneath theroller 8.

As described, the completed form which is shown in FIG. 3 is partially connected, as shown at 5, and is par:

tially detached, as .shown at 7. The lower web portion 12a is shown as having an apertured marginal portion 15 for handling of the web in conventional form machines. Obviously, more than two webs may be interjoined in the manner taught by this invention by successive treatments of joined webs, that is, the composite web '12, 13 may be surface spot glued in the same manner as the original web 12,'whereby a third web may then be 'interjoined with the composite 12, 13, etc. It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction, arrangements, operations, and materials for the various elements, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the instant invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A method for continuously spot bonding'a first sheet web to a second sheet web to provide superimposed sheets bonded to one another at spaced intervals, said method comprising the steps of:

periodically pressing resiliently mounted probes against said first sheet web to physically deform linearly spaced portions of said first sheet web into spaced undulations defining raised unruptured adhesive receiving peaks; supporting adhesive supplying means adjacent said peaks and in a position for applying adhesive thereto; applying adhesive to said peaks to provide sheet bonding means; 7 superimposing said second sheet web onto said first sheet web for contacting said adhesive coated peaks thereof; and urging said first and said second sheet webs toward and into contact with one another to bond said sheets to positions of said adhesive coated peaks,

2. Apparatus for continuously spot bonding a first sheet web to a second sheet web superimposed on said first sheet web to provide a severable bond between said first and said second sheet webs, said first and said second sheet webs being readily subsequently detachable at will to separate said sheet webs, said apparatus comprising:

a frame support;

a cylindrical member rotatably mounted, in said frame support and adapted to receive and support said first sheet web trained and tensioned over a curved outer surface thereof;

spaced radial probes extending outwardly of said surface of said cylindrical member and disposed annularly thereabout to define a plurality of sheet-impression elements;

said probes comprising means adapted to press into said first sheet web tensioned over said outer surface of said cylindrical member for physically deforming linearly spaced portions of said first sheet Web into periodic undulations defining raised unruptured adhesive receiving peaks in said first sheet web;

adhesive supplying means supported adjacent said cylindrical member and spaced therefrom and oriented with respect thereto such that only said peaks formed in said first sheet web contact said adhesive supplying means to receive a coating of adhesive thereon; and a pressure means for urging the sheet web having the adhesive coated peaks into contact with said second sheet web to bond said first and said second sheet webs one to the other at spaced points corresponding to positions ofsaid adhesive-coated peaks.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising spring means resiliently mounting said sheet deforming probes on said cylindrical member and urging said probes radially outwardly of said cylindrical member, said spring means providing controlled and regulated pressure to stress said probes against said first sheet web to deform said first sheet web to provide raised unruptured adhesive receiving peaks.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pressure means for urging said sheet Web having adhesive coated peaks into contact with said second sheet Web to bond said webs together comprises an eccentrically mounted roller rotatably journaled in said frame support to force said first sheet web and said second sheet web together synchronously with respect to passage of glue coated peaks beneath said roller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,926,363 9/3 3 Bergstein 117-37 2,029,922 2/36 Heckel et al. a 15 6-291 XR 2.081.758 5/37 Milmoe 118-239 2,102,937 12/37 Bauer 156291 XR 2,488,685 11/49 Riddle 118225 2,875,724 3/59 Joa 118-211 XR 3,107,181 10/63 Bauder 118211 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner, 

1. A METHOD FOR CONTINUOUSLY SPOT BONDING A FIRST SHEET WEB TO A SECOND SHEET WEB TO PROVIDE SUPERIMPOSED SHEETS BONDED TO ONE ANOTHER AT SPACED INTERVALS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PERIODICALLY PRESSING RESILIENTLY MOUNTED PROBES AGAINST SAID FIRST SHEET WEB TO PHYSICALLY DEFORM LINEARLY SPACED PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST SHEET WEB INTO SPACED UNDULATIONS DEFINING RAISED UNRUPTURED ADHESIVE RECEIVING PEAKS; SUPPORTING ADHESIVE SUPPLYING ADJACENT SAID PEAKS AND IN A POSITION FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE THERETO; APPLYING ADHESIVE TO SAID PEAKS TO PROVIDE SHEETS BONDING MEANS; SUPERIMPOSING SAID SECOND SHEET WEB ONTO SAID FIRST SHEET WEB FOR CONTACTING SAID ADHESIVE COATED PEAKS THEREOF; AND URGING SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND SHEET WEBS TOWARD AND INTO CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER TO BOND SAID SHEETS ADHESIVELY TOGETHER AT SPACED INTERVALS CORRESPONDING TO POSITIONS OF SAID ADHESIVE COATED PEAKS. 